I own a Kala and a Kmise and am happy to recommend both of these models to new uke players. I feel they offer excellent overall build quality, playability, and tone for the money. These ukes have also received thousands of positive reviews from other buyers, so you don’t have to take my word for it.

Kala KA-15C

Kala is one of the best-known brands when it comes to beginner ukuleles. As part of their popular KA-15 series, the KA-15C offers solid tone and playability at a reasonable price.

Kmise KMU26T

I’ve been really impressed with my Kmise ukulele. I didn’t know anything this line when I purchased it from Amazon except what I read in the reviews, but I always take customer reviews with a grain of salt.

Luckily, this ukulele delivered. It has amazing fit, finish, playability, and tone. On top of that, it includes a nice gig bag, clip-on tuner, extra strings, and a strap. Hard to beat for the monet.

Ranch UK-23

I haven’t personally played this uke, due one of my normal recommendations (Lohanu) is out of stock due to coronavirus so I’m including this as an alternative.

From what I can tell, the UK-23 is a high-quality budget uke that’s in the same league as the other models I’ve suggested so far. This model is on my list of ukuleles to review, so stay tuned for a full, in-depth write-up.

Amazon Top Sellers: Lohanu Ukuleles

The Lohanu LU-S, LU-C, and LU-T are currently the highest-rated, best-selling ukuleles on Amazon.

Based out of Canada, the Lohanu company only sells on Amazon. By selling directly to customers and cutting out the middleman, they’re able to offer good package deals at very competitive prices.

The craftsmanship on these ukes is tight and clean. Playability is solid, and the tone is full and rich. I’ve been really impressed with my Lohanu, especially for the price.

These three ukuleles all come with a gig bag, tuner, strap, and extra set of strings.

Lohanu’s ukes have hundreds of great customer reviews touting their excellent build quality and tone, but one thing that I really appreciate is their lifetime warranty and commitment to customer service.

If you’re looking to spend as little as possible, have a look at my article on the best cheap ukulele.

Kala KA-15S

The KA-15S is a clear crowd favorite and is one of the best budget ukes on the market.

In my review of the KA-15S, I write about how it’s a well-made entry-level uke that looks good, sounds great, and is easy to play.

It’s a perfect choice for beginners seeking a respectable starter uke, but it’s also an excellent option for seasoned players in search of an affordable second instrument.

Donner and Hricane

The Donner and Hricane models don’t have Kala’s brand recognition, but the Donner DUS-1 Soprano and Hricane UKS-1 are both great values. I think they’re pretty much equal to the KA-15S in terms of build quality, playability, and tone.

The Hricane UKS-1 includes a nice padded gig bag, while the Donner DUS-1 comes as a complete package with gig bag, tuner, strap, and extra strings.

You may notice that these budget ukes are all soprano sized. Soprano ukes tend to be less expensive since they’re smaller and use fewer materials. The ukes mentioned above are all available in larger concert and tenor sizes.

Good Value: The Hricane UKS-1 Series

Like the other models I’ve highlighted in this article, the Hricane UKS-1 series combine quality, craftsmanship, and playability into a surprisingly affordable package. In terms of customer ratings, Hricane ukes are among the highest-rated on Amazon.

While I don’t own the Cordoba 15CM (yet) I’ve played a handful of them over the years and have always thought they were very well made for the price. I especially like the15CM’s faux abalone rosette and bound fingerboard. These are neat little cosmetic touches that you don’t often see on ukuleles in this price range.

Luna’s Tattoo concert ukulele is another model that surprised me with its quality. It gets its name from the unique Hawaiian tattoo pattern etched onto the top. The bold design may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but if you’re looking for something a little different, this uke is worth a look.